The Holland Museum's mission is Preserving Our Past, Imagining Our Future. By collecting, preserving and communicating what has been, we focus the power of the past to shape the future.

Our collection is represented by more than 100,000 artifacts and archival materials that includes everything from art, books, coins, dolls, stamps and quilts. This collection contains the stories, known as provenance, of thousands of area residents, business, organizations, churches and schools.

The Holland Museum continues to collect the stories not yet represented in our collection.

Holland Museum Père Marquette Caboose

Built in June 1941, the Red Caboose—located at the Padnos Transportation Center train station in downtown Holland off Lincoln Avenue—is a Holland Museum historic artifact. Named Père Marquette after the train line that connects Chicago to Holland and beyond, the metal structure was first donated by CSX Transportation to the Museum. Père Maquette is more than just a historic caboose and train line. The name refers to Jaques Marquette, an early settler in Michigan who founded Sault Sainte Marie and Saint Ignace in the mid-1600s.

To learn more about the Père Marquette Caboose and the Holland Museum restoration efforts, visit our Caboose page.

Listen Now! The Holland Fire of 1871

We encourage you to listen to this recording to reflect on the history of the Holland Fire of 1871 and learn more about the people who lived through it. This audio is was cultivated by individuals of the Holland Museum whose mission is preserving the past and imaging the future. Check out our Holland Fire Walk Virtual Tour and follow the path of the Fire of 1871 while hearing stories of survival shared through images, objects, and firsthand accounts.

 “No one, unless he has been an eyewitness of such a scene, can conceive its terror or its awfulness.”

—Recollection of Holland resident G. Van Schelven


COVID-19 Stories from our Community

As we navigate through these extraordinary circumstances and uncertain times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Holland Museum recognizes the importance of documenting stories within our community and how this health crisis is affecting our daily lives. We are collecting submissions to ensure that our experiences are recorded for future generations and encourage you share your story by filling out one of the forms below. You can also submit pictures to help tell your story. Thank you for sharing!


Research

The Museum archives are open to the public BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please contact Mary Elhart to arrange an appointment at 616-796-3326 or melhart@hollandmuseum.org.

The Collections Department is available to answer questions via email or phone only. Questions will be addressed in the order they are received.

The Museum does NOT perform restoration work.

The Museum does NOT appraise objects, nor can we recommend appraisers. If you have appraisal questions, please contact one of the national professional organizations of appraisers, the American Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers Association of America.


Donations

The Holland Museum hopes to represent the region with meaningful artifacts and archival materials from the past. When you donate an item to the Holland Museum collection, you further that mission. Your generosity helps ensure our Museum shares the region's complete history as well as the inspiring people who have settled and enriched the area. Shape the region's future by educating citizens and students on all the ways the Holland region has grown.

If you have something that you would like to donate to the museum, please contact us:

For questions call Registrar Rick Jenkins 616.796.2081or email him rick@hollandmuseum.org.

Email the Collection Donation Form to rick@hollandmuseum.org or mail it to the museum, addressed to;

Rick Jenkins 31 W. 10th Street Holland, MI 4923

Please complete the form and be sure to include your contact information, and a detailed description (including pictures) of the item(s) you would like to donate.

Prior to bringing your donation to the Museum, please make arrangements with Museum staff. There are procedures and legal paperwork that must be completed to document all donations.

Donation offers are reviewed regularly by the Collections Committee. Please note, we cannot accept every donation that is offered.

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